Day: June 1, 2022

The International Waqaf Conference in conjunction with Brunei MYCE 2022 among others aimed to enhanced understanding on waqaf or endowment and its role comprehensively in generating and stabilising the economy as well as highlighting the privileges and advantages of the waqaf institution as an agent of ummah development.

Dr. Haji Noralizam Bin Haji Aliakbar, Co-Secretary of the International Waqaf Conference said the conference is hoped to provide an extensive understanding among the society and for them be more pro-active in waqaf as anyone can be part of it. 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

The International Waqaf Conference continued in the afternoon with the presentation of three main Working Papers.

Present was Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs. The main Working Papers titled Corporate Waqaf: Models, Governance and Implementation Challenges; Wakaf Financing Ummah Development-Singapore Experience and Integration of Social and Commercial Financial Funds were delivered by presenters from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia respectively.

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Waqaf can and have brought major benefits to the society and even Muslims throughout its history everywhere even in non-Muslim countries and minority communities or even as far as the citizen component and minority population among the people and non-Muslim majority population. The Minister of Religious Affairs explained the matter at the Opening Ceremony of the International Waqaf Conference in conjunction with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2022, MYCE 2022, yesterday MORNING. According to Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the tithe must be paid and collected at certain times according to the haul and at a certain rate according to the amount and according to the types.

Yang Berhormat Pehin reminded that the implementation of waqaf has contributed to the country especially in reducing the government budget. With the presentation of waqaf in the form of necessities, the financial allocation from the government is not required.

The conference was jointly officiated by the Minister of Religious Affairs; Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister Of Home Affairs; and Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, Minister Of Primary Resources And Tourism. The theme of the conference is ‘Towards Realising a Comprehensive Waqaf Implementation and Management’.

The Minister of Home Affairs presented a Premier Paper titled ‘Wakaf and Socio -Economic Development’ followed by the virtual presentation of the main paper 1 by Datuk Doctor Mohd Ghazali Mohd Noor, the Deputy Secretary General of the Zakat and Waqaf Forum, Malaysia.

The Brunei Islamic Week Exhibition also features waqaf clinic during the conference. The 4-day exhibition held until 4th of June is jointly conducted with the Waqaf Division, Brunei Islamic Religious Council Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs; UNISSA and KUPU SB. This year, four Waqaf Institutions from abroad participated in the exhibition. 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Yang Berhormat also stated that as previously informed, the Ministry of Health continues to conduct gene sequencing analysis to identify the types of COVID-19 variants detected in the country even in the current situation where daily cases have decreased.

Since early January 2022, 1,593 samples from COVID-19 positive cases have undergone gene sequencing tests in which 87.9 percent of the samples were found to be from the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, one case has been detected as the Omicron BA-4 variant. The case arrived in the country from South Africa on 25th April 2022 and only have mild symptoms. At present, the case has fully recovered. Globally, the number of cases of Omicron BA-1 and BA-2 variants are higher than the number of cases of Omicron BA-4 and BA-5 variants. Therefore, the inclusion of cases with Omicron variants BA-4 and BA-5 are not expected to result in a significant increase in cases in the country. With the inclusion of this Omicron BA-4 variant, the public are advised not to feel anxious or worried. The Ministry of Health will constantly monitor the development of COVID-19. The public are advised to follow the current SOPs.

Source: Radio Television Brunei